Oakland Public Library: Melrose Branch

There are a handful of public computers with internet access, self-checkout, a copier, printer, and scanner. Kids’ events like Storytime and Playtime usually happen in an open area that can spill out to the outdoor garden and play space, where toddlers and preschoolers run around after the songs and stories. On school-day afternoons, it is common to see older kids gathering for things like the Kids’ Crochet Club, working on yarn projects with supplies from the branch.

Events for adults are low-key and simple. The Adult Crochet Club meets in a corner or in the meeting room, with people bringing current projects or learning basic stitches from more experienced crocheters. The branch has all-gender restrooms and a meeting room that can hold a moderate-sized group for community gatherings or programs. Parking is usually street parking on the side streets, with one accessible spot on 48th Avenue and an accessible side entrance there with an elevator up to the main floor. Regulars tend to know the street sweeping times, so visitors may want to check posted signs if arriving in the morning on certain weekdays.

The building itself is a historic Carnegie-era library, and the Melrose Branch has been at this location for more than a century. The Classical Revival architecture gives it a more formal exterior than many newer branches, but day to day it functions like a neighborhood spot where people drop in for books, homework time, small clubs, and children’s activities in the garden.

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